Dhoomam Ott Release Date: Dhoomam is a Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Pawan Kumar, starring Fahadh Faasil, Aparna Balamurali, Roshan Mathew, and Vineeth in the lead roles. The film, which was released in theatres on June 23, 2023, is now set to stream on Amazon Prime Video from August 4, 2023.
The Plot and the Message of Dhoomam
Dhoomam revolves around Avinash (Fahadh Faasil), a marketing head of a tobacco company, who decides to quit his job after realizing the harmful effects of smoking on people’s health and lives. However, his decision comes with a deadly consequence as he and his wife Diya (Aparna Balamurali) are kidnapped by a mysterious person who implants a bomb inside one of them. The only way to stop the bomb from exploding is to smoke cigarettes, which ironically is the cause of their predicament. Avinash has to arrange a ransom of Rs 1 crore within a limited time and also do the bidding of their captor, who seems to have a personal vendetta against him and his company.
The film exposes the dark side of the tobacco industry and its unethical practices of targeting young and vulnerable customers. It also highlights the importance of quitting smoking and the challenges faced by those who want to do so. The film delivers a powerful message against tobacco consumption and its devastating consequences.
The Cast and the Crew
Dhoomam marks the debut of Pawan Kumar, a renowned Kannada filmmaker, in Malayalam cinema. Kumar is known for his acclaimed films such as Lucia (2013) and U-Turn (2016), which were praised for their innovative storytelling and technical brilliance. Kumar has also written the script of Dhoomam, which is based on an original idea by him.
Fahadh Faasil, one of the most versatile and talented actors in Malayalam cinema, plays the lead role of Avinash, a conflicted and tormented character who has to face his own demons and fight for his survival. Faasil has delivered several memorable performances in films such as Bangalore Days (2014), Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Trance (2020), and Joji (2021).
Aparna Balamurali, who rose to fame with her role in Maheshinte Prathikaaram, plays the role of Diya, Avinash’s wife, who supports him in his ordeal. Balamurali has also acted in films such as Sunday Holiday (2017), Sarvam Thaala Mayam (2019), Soorarai Pottru (2020), and The Great Indian Kitchen (2021).
Roshan Mathew, who made his debut with Puthiya Niyamam (2016), plays the role of Sid, Avinash’s boss and friend, who runs the tobacco company. Mathew has also acted in films such as Aanandam (2016), Koode (2018), Moothon (2019), C U Soon (2020), and Kuruthi (2021).
Vineeth, a veteran actor and dancer, plays the role of Praveen, Sid’s uncle and the owner of the tobacco company. Vineeth has acted in more than 100 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi languages. Some of his notable films are Nakhakshathangal (1986), Sargam (1992), Chandramukhi (2005), Traffic (2011), and Thira (2013).
The film also features Achyuth Kumar, Anu Mohan, Mable Thomas, Joy Mathew, Leenaz Samad-Bicha, Arvind Shenoy, Dharamanna Kadur, and Aseem Ibrahim in supporting roles.
The film is produced by Vijay Kiragandur under his banner Hombale Films, which is known for producing blockbuster films such as KGF: Chapter 1 (2018) and Kantara (2021). The film is co-produced by Vijay Subramaniam for Amazon Prime Video.
The music of the film is composed by Poornachandra Tejaswi, who has also worked with Pawan Kumar in Lucia and U Turn. The cinematography is done by Preetha Jayaraman, who has previously worked in films such as Abhiyum Naanum (2008) and Aadukalam (2011). The editing is done by Suresh Arumugam, who has also edited films such as Ratsasan (2018) and Oh My Kadavule (2020). The production design is done by Anees Nadodi, who has also worked in films such as Parava (2017) and Jallikattu (2019).
The costume design is done by Poornima Ramaswamy, who has also worked in films such as Vada Chennai (2018) and Super Deluxe (2019). The action choreography is done by Chethan Dsouza, who has also worked in films such as Ugramm (2014) and KGF: Chapter 1. The sound design is done by Renganaath Ravee, who has also worked in films such as Drishyam (2013) and Lucifer (2019). The visual effects are done by Jijo Cleetus and Lavan Prakasan, who have also worked in films such as Pulimurugan (2016) and Odiyan (2018).
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The Reception and the Reviews of Dhoomam
Dhoomam was released in theatres on June 23, 2023, in Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages. The movie did not have a clear consensus among reviewers and viewers. While some praised the film for its message and Fahadh Faasil’s performance, others criticized the film for its lack of depth, zest, and soul. The film was also compared unfavorably with Pawan Kumar’s previous films, which were considered more innovative and engaging.
The film failed to make a mark at the box office, as it faced stiff competition from other releases such as Jagame Thandhiram (2021), Cold Case (2021), and Sherni (2021). The film also suffered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the theatrical business across the country.
Dhoomam OTT Release Date
Despite its disappointing theatrical run, Dhoomam has a chance to reach a wider audience through its OTT release. According to reports, the film has been acquired by Amazon Prime Video for streaming rights in multiple languages including Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. The film is expected to premiere on the OTT platform on August 4, 2023. However, there has been no official confirmation from the makers or the OTT platform yet.
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Dhoomam |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Genre | Action thriller |
| Director | Pawan Kumar |
| Writer | Pawan Kumar |
| Producer | Vijay Kiragandur |
| Co-producer | Vijay Subramaniam |
| Music | Poornachandra Tejaswi |
| Cinematography | Preetha Jayaraman |
| Editing | Suresh Arumugam |
| Production Company | Hombale Films |
| Distribution company | Prithviraj Productions and Magic Frames |
| OTT platform | Amazon Prime Video |
| Release date | June 23, 2023 (theatrical)August 4, 2023 (OTT) |
| Running time | 143 minutes |
| Budget | ₹25 crore |
| Box office | ₹10 crore |
